Her post reminded me of an "incident" from my childhood.
I was in first or second grade, and the teacher told us to draw a picture and write a short story about our best friend. Usually, I had trouble making decisions, but for once there was no problem. My best friend was the blue spruce that grew in our front yard. It was a massive, gorgeous tree. Whenever I was upset, I could sit by the tree. If inside, I only had to look out my bedroom window to see it. The tree instantly calmed me and made me happy.
![](http://usera.imagecave.com/jmkinnard/bluespruce.jpg)
When we finished writing, the teacher made us take turns reading our story to the class. To my horror, I realized that every other child had written about another person. I was the only one to write about a tree. I was already getting used to being a freak relative to the other kids, but what was worse was I'd gotten the assignment wrong! I was a stupid freak!
Sure enough, when I read my story, the other kids laughed and the teacher was not happy. From that moment on, I considered that story to be evidence of how I didn't measure up. I selected a tree as my best friend? It's taken several years into adulthood to see that choice was a defining moment in my life. I loved that tree dearly, and it was my best friend.
![](http://usera.imagecave.com/jmkinnard/bluesprucefulltree.jpg)
5 comments:
I think you've come to a great place for tree lovers.
How unfortunate that the teacher (of such young children, too) could not broaden her imagination and celebrate YOURS. Not just mental imagination, but spiritual imagination.
jr-this place is the best.
lareinacobre-Unfortunately, that isn't my worst memory of a teacher. However, I have several great teacher memories too, so that helps.
The other night I had a dream where I had to choose a "familiar," like an animal to be my guardian or friend or something (it was a dream, short on details). I chose grass.
So I can identify.
sara-Excellent choice!
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